Axle-box



L(No Model.)

E. G. MGGIRR.

vAXLP Box. Y l No. 212,293. Patented Peb. 13,1883.

Wz'i'nesges: ,17227-672207@ I NA PETERS. Phuwuxhugnpher. washingwn. D c,

UNITED STATES PATENT IOEFICE.

HUGH G. Moeten, oF AUBURN, YNew Yoax.

AXLE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.. 272,293, dated February 13, 1883, t Application led September-19,188?. {No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH G. MCGIRR., of Auburn, county of Cayuga, State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Axle-Boxes, of which the following is a tull` the shock incident to any sudden lateral movenient of the wheel; also, to provide simple and eft'ective means for preventing the nut from turning upon and dropping off the axle while the wheel is in motion. These objects I attain by means of one or more tubular spirallyslotted metal bushings titted within the box of the wheel-hub and adapted to turn upon the axle, the spiral slot acting as a conveyer for carrying the lubricant over the wearingsurface ot' the axle while the wheel is in mo tion, and the bushing thus formed serving as a spring bumper or cushion when the wheel is thrown to either side, so as to bring the end of the bushing against an abutment ou the axle. The last object I attain by means of a cap foi med as herein described, and fitted both upon thenut and the axle.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a portion ot' an axle, partly insection, with'myimprovements applied. Fig. 2 is an end view ot' the cap detached. Fig. 3 is a section through the hub-box, taken on the line xx, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents one of the tubular spirally-slotted bushings.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A indcates the body of the'axle, and A one of its arms. The box C of the wheel-hub has its inner end enlarged, so as to form a cap, U', which fits over one end 4ot' a collar, D, forged upon or cast and shrunk on the axle..VY The outer end of the box passes under an annular flange,

mitting of the free rotation ofthe box around the axle-arm, eftectually prevents the entrance of dirt and sand between the. arm and the box.

, Upon the axle-arm, between the nut and the collar, which is located at the junction of the a pair of tubular spirally-slotted steel bushings, F, whichrotate with the box by which they are inclosed. In order to cause these two bushings to thus rotate with the box, I x within the middle of the latter a collar or ring, G, provided with notches g, and upon one end of each bushing I provide a lug,.H,'which is received in .oneJ of the notches in the ring. In this way the bushings will be locked to the box, and hence will rotate simultaneously with the same. As the wheel, with its l1ub-box and these bushings, revolves, the lubricant which has been supplied will be carried around the axle-arm and also distributed from end to end thereof by the walls ot' the spiral slots in the bushings. These spirally slotted steel bushings also serve as elastic cushions for taking up the shock incident to any lateral play of the wheel, and serve to preventjarriug and rattling. The inner end ofthe bushing which is next to the axlebody abuts against the collar between the body and thearm, while the outer end of the remaining bushing abuts against the nut. To prevent the nut from turning and dropping oi' while the vehicle is in motion, I provide a cap, I, which is adapted to lit snugly upon the nut. This cap has an oblong opening, t', in whichthe correspondingly-shaped outerend of theaxle-arm is titted. Hence while the axle prevents the rotation ot' the cap the latter will'prevent the nut from turning, since the inner side of the rim of the cap is made polygon lal-shaped, so as to conform to the shape of the nut. To hold this cap upon the nut and the axle-arm, a set-screw, K, is fitted in a screw-threaded socket, L, in the end `of theaxle-arm and the screw tightened up against the cap.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-` l. A removable tubular spirally-slotted nietal bushing, iitted within the box of the wheelhub, and adapted to t and turn upon the axle-arm, substantially as described.

-2. The combination, with the box ot'a wheelhub, of the two spirally-slotted tubular metal 4bushings fitted within the box, and connected at their meeting ends with a collar which is rigid vwith. the box, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the box ofa wheelhub, having one end fitted over a collar on the axle-arm and the body ot the axle, I arrange IOC axle and its remaining end fitted within an annular ange of a nut which is secured upon the end of the axle, of the tubular spirallyslotted metal bushings loosely fitted upon the axle-arm and connected with the box, the outer ends of the two bushings being respectively opposed to the said nut and collar, substantially as described.

4. The ring or collar formed in or with the box, and having lugs or notches for preventing; the bushing from turning therein, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the nut tted upon the end of the axle-arm, of the cap fitted upon the nut and adapted to embrace the squaredsides thereof', and having an elongated openingin which the end ofthe axle is received, said cap being secured to the axle-arin by'a setls'crew, substantially as described.

6. The axle provided with the screivlthreadi l ed end and the flanged nut E E', in combination with cap I, provided with the oblong;r slot t', which is adapted to lit over the shouldered end of the axle and embrace the sides of the nut. substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The axle provided with the external and internal screw-threaded end, the anged nurl E E', cap I, provided with the oblong slot 1'., adapted ro t over the shouldered end of the axle, and also to embrace the sides ofthe nut, in combination with the setscrew K, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HUGH G. MCGIRR.

Vitnesses:

EDWD. H. TOWNSEND, ADOLPII KEI'L. 

